Though there’s never a wrong time to honor the men and women who serve our country, summer is particularly meaningful, thanks to Memorial Day and the 4th of July. In that spirit, MyDot would like to pay tribute to Private First Class (PFC) Len Lathan, one of the first African American men to serve in the U.S. Marines Corps.

Lathan, who will soon be 86, was one of the original Montford Point Marines, a group of black men who integrated the Marines between 1942 and 1949. Late last year, Congress unanimously voted to honor the brave men who often faced racist treatment from officers and fellow Marines.

"They paved the way for all the other African-Americans coming into the Marine Corps. They made the sacrifice," Louise Greggs, co-operator of Jacksonville’s Montford Point Marine Museum told The Fayetteville Observer. "They thought nothing of it. They had no way of knowing they were making history. They just wanted to be Marines."

Tomorrow, President Barrack Obama will honor the living Montford Point Marines with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. Lathan will be among the honored veterans.

"We are totally thrilled," said Greggs. "This is something that these men totally deserve, and they have been waiting for this for over 60 years. These men are true patriots.”

Congratulations and thank you for your service, PFC Len Lathan!